First ever 5G NR call made today on a commercial network with simulated smartphone device

Verizon, Ericsson and Qualcomm take next step toward making mobile 5G service a reality

MINNEAPOLIS – Today, Verizon, Ericsson and Qualcomm Technologies Inc., a subsidiary of Qualcomm Incorporated, completed the first end-to-end call with a smartphone form factor test device on a commercial 3GPP 5G New Radio (NR) network in Minneapolis, MN. The successful test demonstrated the experience consumers will eventually have on a commercial 5G NR network.

Last week, Verizon and Nokia completed the first over-the-air data transmission on a commercial 5G NR network in Washington DC. These demonstrations follow a series of other 5G NR “firsts” Verizon achieved this summer before commercial 5G mobile service launches in 2019.

“This latest demonstration is significant because it took place over commercial 5G NR network equipment to a test device in the form factor of the handheld devices our customers will eventually use on our 5G network,” said Bill Stone, vice president, Technology Development and Planning for Verizon. “Verizon and our technology partners continue to achieve significant 5G deployment milestones. Together, we’re leading the way to making this next-generation technology a reality.”

The companies were able to perform several tests over the 5G connection, including accessing the internet. The transmissions were completed over Verizon’s 39 GHz spectrum and an Ericsson millimeter wave radio through the Ericsson non-standalone Option 3x core. The Qualcomm form factor test device included an integrated Snapdragon X50 5G modem and RF subsystem.

Fredrik Jejdling, executive vice president and head of Networks at Ericsson, said: “We’ve taken 5G from the lab to a real-life network environment. We’ve done so with customer focus in mind and through close collaboration with key partners. Achieving this call using our commercial 5G NR network equipment and a smartphone form factor device with Verizon and Qualcomm underscores our dedication to ensuring 5G delivers the promised benefits for our customers and their end users.”

“Today’s successful end-to-end connection between an Ericsson base station and a Qualcomm mobile test device over Verizon’s 5G network is another major milestone on the path to commercial 5G,” said Joe Glynn, vice president, business development, Qualcomm Technologies, Inc. “We look forward to conducting further demos with both Verizon and Ericsson as we continue to pave the way to commercial 5G devices and networks in early 2019.”

First to launch 5G residential broadband service in four U.S. markets

Verizon has announced it will be first to launch 5G residential broadband service in four markets in the U.S. – Los Angeles, Sacramento, Houston and Indianapolis – in the second half of 2018, followed by a mobile 5G solution.